Across the worlds of the Cadian Gate, cultists, recidivists and malcontents
of all kinds are rising up against the rule of the Adeptus Terra. Over-populated
Hive worlds as far apart as the Scarus and the Cadian sectors have erupted
in violence, seemingly without cause. Even the higher echelons of Hive
World Tabor and the naval base of Belis Corona have proven to be riven
with Chaos cults. Charismatic demagogues are inciting frenzied mobs
to fight the ruthless, crushing oppression inherent in the Imperium,
and hundreds of thousands have heeded their seditious ravings. Assassinations
and poisonings herald new eras of anarchy in key warzones, and whole
supply fleets have mysteriously vanished. Nemesis Tessera, St. Josmane’s
Hope and Lelithar are all ravaged by insurrection.

However, all across the system the backlash of those still faithful
to the Imperium begins. In the panicked streets of Thracian Primaris,
one man alone has succeeded in uniting the desperate citizens against
the evils of chaos. The worlds of the Belis Corona system have undergone
a massive recruitment drive, and priestly delegations stir up Imperial
conscripts into a fever of righteous anger.

Across other worlds, a more insidious threat has appeared. A virulent
death-plague has claimed the lives of countless citizens, and many redemption
cults have appeared, pronouncing that the only escape from its merciless
clutches is to be found in self-flagellation and atonement. Those who
deny this redemption are put to the sword, and countless lives have
been lost as miles-high hive cities, and their inhabitants, have been
immolated in the redemption cults’ efforts to cleanse them.

Some say that the victims of this plague do not rest peacefully, and
that those struck down are returning once more, in hideous, bloated,
maggot-ridden form to revisit their misery upon the living. Only those
of the purest faith are said to be immune.

Attacks have taken place across the region, though the identity of
the invaders has yet to be confirmed. With the situation on many worlds
critical, the Imperium can ill-afford an increase in Chaos attacks through
the Cadian Gate.

All the while, Astropaths and Navigators report nightmares and hellish
visions, and foretell nought but death and destruction for the defenders
of the Cadia. The Warp Storms attracted to the site of the Hive Teriax
disaster have led to a massive influx of warp entities upon the fortress
world, a certain precursor to invasion from Abaddon’s fleet.